Local

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
Local restaurants have already begun taking advantage of county residents’ approval of a recent ballot initiative to sell beer and wine on Sundays, but they’ll have to wait a bit longer to sell liquor by the drink.
More than half of Lancaster County voters approved a ballot measure during the Nov. 6 general election to allow local restaurants to sell alcohol on Sundays.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
Lisa Woods had been waiting and watching intently for when widespread public transportation would become a reality in Lancaster County.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, her wishes came true as Lancaster Area Ride Service (LARS) announced a major expansion of its program, which began in 2009.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Questions abounded from Lancaster County Council members Monday night, Nov. 26, about recent news that the city of Lancaster had abandoned a plan for a joint E-911 center.
County Administrator Steve Willis informed council members that Lancaster City Council elected to keep its own 911 center, effectively halting a proposed plan to merge both the city and county’s 911 dispatch centers.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
The city of Lancaster has again received a favorable review of its financial activities.
Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt of Charlotte conducted the city's 2011-12 audit, which was presented to Lancaster City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
The firm issued a “clean opinion” of the city’s governmental and business activities, which means things are in good standing. The audit also reviewed each major city fund, its balance and its accounting practices.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
A Charlotte man is recovering from his injuries after a ricocheting bullet struck him in the face at a Lancaster home on Thanksgiving Day.
A sheriff’s deputy spoke with a nurse about the shooting shortly after it happened Nov. 22. The nurse, who works at Carolina’s Medical Center in Waxhaw, N.C., said a 50-year-old Charlotte man came in with a gunshot wound to his face, according to a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office incident report.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
Police arrested two juveniles at Lancaster High School last month after they were caught with a commonly abused prescription drug.
School officials called the school resource office about 1 p.m. Nov. 19 in regards to a 15-year-old male student who had been caught with eight and a half “Xanax bars.”
The 2-milligram, elongated pills, which can be broken into four portions, are the highest dosage of the prescription drug alprazolam, sold under the trade name Xanax.

Employment in Lancaster County appears to be improving, at least from a statistical standpoint.

The county had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent in October, a small drop from the 10.9 percent posted in September, according to figures released last week by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

In comparison, Lancaster County posted a 13.4 percent unemployment rate in October 2011.